Window structure



Aug. 6, 1963 A. w. BURNETT wmnow STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 10, 1961 wnqflu Lllm l n... ML 01. 2 w WHlnI/WZ m2 2 M FIC5.2

ATTORNEY Aug. 6, 1963 A. w. BURNETT WINDOW STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 10, 1961 FIG. 5

FIG. 4

FIG. 7

INVENTOR.

ALICE W. BURNETT BY ATTORNEY 3,099,865 WINDOW STRUCTURE Alice W. Burnett, 1340 E. Fairview Ave., South Bend, Ind. Filed Apr. 10, 1961, Ser. No. 101,891 6 Claims. (Cl. 243-40) The present invention relates to a window structure and more particularly mullion type windows, principally those having a number of relatively small panels or panes of unobstructed glass.

The conventional mullion type Windows extensively used in home construction consist of a casing with four or more individual panes of glass supported by the easing and/ or by a plurality of intersecting strips or bars completely framing and supporting the panes. These panes are usually less than a foot square and the standard home window contains at least six or eight in a window section. The task of periodic cleaning of the windows of this construction is tedious, ineflicient and time consuming, and unless considerable care is used, leaves dirt and water stains along the mullions and particularly in the corners formed by the intersecting strips and easing members. This cleaning task is made increasingly difficult by the small size of the individual panes which are usually too small to permit the use of Squeegees and other types of efficient cleaning tools and operations. It is therefore one of the principal objects of the present invention to provide a window structure having only relatively large, easily cleaned and readily replaceable panels of glass, but having the appearance of a substantially larger number of relatively small panes.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a window sash or section having a single panel of glass divided by a removable mullion structure or unit which can be readily removed from and inserted in the casing and yet has the appearance of the conventional rigid integrated pane and mullion structure.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a window structure having removable mullions which can be readily and conveniently removed from the window without first releasing any fixtures, clamps or means involving a mechanical manipulation, and which can be easily reinserted and secured in the window frame by merely placing the mullion unit in position against the panel of glass in the window.

A further object is to provide a removable mullion structure and securing means for ostensibly multi-pane windows, which is held firmly in place against the single panel of glass to assume the appearance of a conventional window and which can be removed from the window sash by merely lifting it away from the glass panel and inserted by merely setting it in the window sash without any other mechanical operation being required and without carefully engaging the structure with the securing means.

Another object of the invention is to provide "a relatively simple securing means for removable mullions which is completely concealed in the mullion and sash structure and which can be operated or manipulated easily and efiectively without tools, mechanical skill or special care.

Another object of the invention is to provide a securing means for removable mullions which is constructed of only two fixed parts, one attached to the mullion and the other to the window sash, and which tends to guide the million during the final stages of the assembly operation and assists in locating the mullion in proper position within the casing and against the glass.

A further object is to provide a securing means of the aforesaid type which is not adversely affected by moisture, dirt and other foreign matter, and which is concealed or inconspicuous in the window sash when the tates Patent Patented Aug. 6, 1963 mullion is removed so that the window can be used with the mullion removed without any unsightly fixtures, holes or projections being visible.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a single sash window, showing the sash mounted in a frame;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical crosssectional view of the sash shown in FIGURE 1, taken on line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a front elevational view corresponding to the fragmentary view shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a front elevational view of a fragmentary portion of the sash similar to that shown FIG- URE 3, illustrating a modified form of the present invention;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view of a steel casement window embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 6 is a front elevational view of the fragmentary portion of the casement window shown in FIG- URE 5;

FIGURE 7 is a front elevational view of a fragmentary portion of a casement window similar to that shown in FIGURE 6, illustrating a modified form of the invention;

FIGURE 8 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the casement Window portion shown in FIGURE 7 taken on line 8-8 of the latter figure;

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical crosssectional view of the sash shown in FIGURE 1, taken on line 99 of the latter figure; and

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view similar to that shown in FIGURE 9, illustrating a modified form of the present invention.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, FIGURE 1 illustrates a single sash window 12 consisting generally of the sash 14 and rectangular frame 16, the sash consisting of a casing 18 disposed around and supporting a single panel of glass 20. Casing 18 is substantially square and consists of stiles 22 and 24 and top and bottom rails 26 and 28. FIGURE 1 shows the interior side of the window with merely the facing of the frame being shown. With the exception of the single pane of glass 29, construction of the window thus far described may be considered conventional for the puropse of the present invention, and is merely included for the purpose of illustrating the invention and does not constitute a limitation but merely represents one window structure to which the present invention is applicable.

Glass panel 20 is supported in stiles 22 and 24 and top and bottom rails 26 and 28 and seats in an inwardly and outwardly facing groove 30 on the external side of casing 14, the glass panel normally being held securely in the casing by brads 32 and a suitable caulking compound 34 placed along the external periphery of the panel. The stiles and rails shown in FIGURES l, 2, 3, 4, 9 and 10 are of wood joined together by mortise and tenon joints (not shown), and the sash thus formed is held in frame 16 by screws or suitable latches (not shown). The invention is not limited to the particular type of materials or size and shape of the window or sash.

In the present window structure, a removable mullion, indicated generally by numeral 40, is mounted in the sash as a separate unit and consists of vertical muntins 42, 44 and 46 extending continuously from the top to bottom rails, and horizontal muntins 48, 50 and 52 extending continuously between stile 22 and stile 24. Vertical muntins 42, 44 and 46 and horizontal muntins 48, 50 and 52 are joined rigdly together by any suitable type of joint 54- and form a rigid self-supporting structure with upper and lower ends 58 and 60 of the vertical muntins and lateral ends 62 and 64 of the horizontal muntins extending outwardly with the free ends thereof unsupported. Mullion unit 40 is substantially rigid and can be lifted and carried as a separate structure by merely grasping one vertical or horizontal muntin and can be inserted within the confines of casement 18 against glass panel by merely lifting the unit and placing is in the position shown.

The removable mullion structure 40 is retained firmly in place once it has been inserted within the sash by a plurality of fixtures 70 consisting of a permanent metal magnet 72 and a co-operating steel or iron insert 74. In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURES l, 2 and 3, the magnet 72 consists of a cylindrical bar fully seated in a round hole 76 extending radially outwardly adjacent to and from the glass panel 20. The inner end 78 of the magnet is preferably flush with the inner edge of casing 18. This type of magnet permits easy fabrication and assembly of the present fixture 79 in that it is merely necessary to drill a round hole into the inner edges of the casing 18 before glass panel 20 is inserted. The steel insert 74 is attached to the outer ends of the vertical and horizontal muntins, the one shown consisting of a half disc-shaped member seated in a slot 80 in the end of the muntin and secured therein by cement or any other suitable securing material or means. The particular size and shape of the steel or iron insert 74 are not important so long as it can be effectively secured in proper position on or in the outer ends of the muntins. As shown in FIGURE 1, opposite ends of both the horizontal and vertical muntins contain fixtures 70' with the exception of the lower end of the center vertical muntin. The number used may. be varied form one or two at the top only to one on every one of the muntin ends. Preferably, fixtures 70 are used on the upper ends on all of the vertical muntins and on the lower ends of one or two of the vertical muntins. In addition, any other fixtures used will depend primarily'on the size of the mullion and the spacing and number of both horizontal and vertical muntins.

In FIGURE 4 a modified form is illustrated, consisting of a cylindrical bar permanent magnet 9t inserted longitudinally in the end of one of the muntins with the outer end flush with the end of the muntin, and a steel or iron insert 92 of any suitable size and shape, the one shown being a rectangularly shaped steel bar, seated in a recess 94 in the inner edge of casing 18. The bar and insert may be held in their respective recesses by merely a snug fit; however, it is usually preferable to secure them into place with cement or other suitable securing means.

In using the two embodiments of the present invention illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 4, the mullion structure 40-is placed within the confines of casing '18 against glass panel 20 and is held therein by the fixtures 70. It is apparent that the attraction between permanent magnet 72 and steel insert 74 in FIGURES 1 through 3 and between magnet 90 and insert 92 in FIGURE 4 will not only hold the mullion structure firmly in place but will assist in seating it firmly against the inner side of glass panel 20, thereby facilitating the appearance of the window as a conventional multi-pane sash. When it is desired to wash or otherwise clean the inner surface of glass panel 20, mullion 4G is merely pulled outwardly with sufficient force to overcome the attraction between the permanent magnet and steel inserts of each of the fixtures and thereafter lifted away from the window. The glass can then be washed or otherwise cleaned as a single surface using conventional cleaning equipment including a squeegee and sponge, which otherwise would be impractical on the small panes comprising a conventional window of this type. After the panel has been cleaned, it is only necessary to place the mullion again within the confines of casing 18, the magnets of the several fixtures thereafter properly seating the structure against the window panel and retaining it in place until it is intentionally removed at a later time, the magnetic fixture holding it firmly and preventing it from rattling.

In the structure shown in FIGURE 1, a magnet may be used at the bottom of the middle vertical muntin or the end made even with the lower ends of the other vertical muntins or it may have a small projection 96 on the inner edge of the end for seating in a corresponding slot 98 in the upper surface of bottom rail 28 adjacent glass panel 20. This type of structure is not necessary for retaining the mullion unit in place; however, it can be used in place of one or all of the fixtures 70 at the bottom ends of vertical muntins 42, 44 and 46. In placing a mullion having the projection 96 on one or more of the lower ends of the vertical muntins into place in the window, the lower ends of the vertical muntins are first seated against the glass panel and on the upper surface of thebottom rail as indicated in FIGURE 9. The muntin is then merely swung upwardly and inwardly against the inner surface of glass panel 20. Fixtures 70 at the upper ends of the vertical muntins retain the mullion unit thereafter firmly in place.

This structure can be reversed between top and bottom,

i.e. the projection and slot can be used at the upper ends of the vertical muntins and magnetic fixtures 70 at the lower ends.

A modified form of the invention is illustrated in FIG- URES 5, 6 and 7 wherein the present invention is adapted to steel casement windows, consisting of top and bottom rails and the two side rails, and vertical and horizontal muntins, the upper rail 102, vertical muntin 104 and glass panel 1416 only being shown to illustrate the invention. In this form of the invention, a permanent magiet 108 of any suitable shape, the one shown being a cylindrical bar, is seated in a slot 110 and secured therein by any suitable securing means such as cement. The magnet co,- operates with the adjacent end of the steel muntin 104 to retain the mullion unit in place in the same manner as magnet 72 acts on insert 74 in the previously described embodiment. FIGURE 7 illustrates a reversal of parts of the fixture in which a permanent bar magnet 1112 is seated in a slot 114 in the end of muntin 1'16 and secured therein by any suitable means. In this arrangement as in the preceding arrangement, the magnet 1'12 co-operates with the adjacent window structure consisting of steel rail 102 to retain the removable mullion unit in place after it has been inserted in the casing.

A further modification of the present invention and certain features thereof are illustrated in FIGURE 10 wherein a socket is employed as an alternative to the projection and slot of FIGURE 9, and consists of a cylindrical shell 122 having a movable ball 124 urged toward the outer end by a coil spring 126. This socket unit co-operates with a stem 128 to permit the stem to be seated in the socket by merely pushing the stem into the casing, displacing the ball away from the open end. The ball, which is prevented from being displaced from the oasing by an internal flange 130 around the opening of the socket, provides a neat appearance when the mullion is removed. This type of fixture can be used in place of the projection 96 and slot 98 of FIGURE 9 at the bottom of any one of the vertical muntins. The fixture shown in FIGURE 10 can, if desired, be used at the top of the mullion unit in place of fixtures 70, and fixtures 70 can be used at the bottom. However, more care is required to insert stem 128 into the socket than bringing magnet 72 and insert 74 together; hence, the socket is preferably used at the bottom.

Various changes and further modifications may be made in the present removable mullion structure and fixtures therefor. For example, fixtures 7% may, if desired, be placed merely at the ends of the horizontal muntins rather than on ends of the vertical muntins. Likewise, a projection and slot construction shown in FIGURE 9 or a socket construction shown in FIGURE 10 can be used along one of the stiles with fixtures 70 used along the other stile. Other variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

I claim:

1. A window structure simulating a multi-pane window, comprising a casing of wooden top and bottom rails and two side rails, a single panel of glass mounted in and spaced inwardly from the interior edge of said casing, a plurality of vertical and horizontal muntins connected rigidly together to form a removable mullion unit, the ends of said muntins projecting beyond the last cross muntin on the respective edge of said unit, and a fixture at each end of each muntin, each fixture consisting of a permanent magnet part and a magnetic attr actable part, one of said parts being secured to the end of a muntin and the other of said parts being recessed in said casing adjacent said one muntin.

2. A window structure simulating a multi-pane window, comprising a casing, a panel of glass mounted in and spaced inwardly from the interior edge of said casing, a vertical and a horizontal muntin connected rigidly together to form a removable mullion unit, and a fixture at each end of each muntin, each fixture consisting of a permanent magnet part and a part of magnetic attractable material, one of said parts being on the end of a muntin and the other of said parts being in said casing adjacent said one muntin.

3. A window structure simulating a multi-pane window, comprising a casing, a panel of glass mounted in and spaced inwardly from the interior edge of said casing, a vertical and a horizontal muntin connected rigidly together to form a removable mullion unit, and a fixture at the end of one muntin having two parts, one of said parts consisting of a permanent magnet and the other of said parts consisting of magnetic attractable material, one of said parts being secured to the end of a muntin and the other of said parts being in said casing adjacent said one muntin.

4. A window structure simulating a multi-pan Window, comprising a casing, a panel of glass mounted in and spaced inwardly from the interior edge of said casing, a plurality of vertical and horizontal muntins connected rigidly together to form a removable mullion unit, the ends of said mutins projecting beyond the cross muntin on the respective edge of said unit, and a fixture at the upper and lower ends of said vertical muntins for retaining the mullion unit in place within the casing and against the panel of glass, each fixture having two parts, one of said parts consisting of a permanent magnet and the other of said parts consisting of a magnetic attractable insert, one of said parts being secured to an end of one of the vertical muntins and the other of said parts being in said casing adjacent said one muntin.

5. A window stnucture simulating a multi-pane window, comprising a casing, a panel of glass mounted in and spaced inwardly from the interior edge of said casing, a plurality of vertical and horizontal muntins connected rigidly together to form a removable mullion unit, the ends of said muntins projecting beyond the cross muntin on the respective edge of said unit, and a fixture at the uper ends of said ventical muntins (for retaining the mullion unit in place within the casing and against the panel of glass, each fixture having two parts, one of said parts consisting of a permanent magnet and the other of said pants consisting :of magnetic attractable material, one of said parts being secured to the end of one of the vertical muntins and the other of said parts being in said casing adjacent said one muntin.

6. A window structure simulating a nmlti-pane window, comprising a casing, a panel of glass mounted in and spaced inwardly from the interior edge of said casing, a plurality of vertical and horizontal muntins connected rigidly together to :form a removable mullion unit, the ends of said muntins projecting beyond the cross muntin on the respective edge of said unit, a fixture at the upper ends of said vertical muntins for retaining the mullion unit in place within the casing and against the panel of glass, each fixture consisting of a permanent magnet part and a magnetic attractable part, one of said parts being secured to the end of a muntin and (the other of said parts being in said casing adjacent said one muntin, and a projection on the lower end of at least one of said vertical muntins and a recess in the casing adjacent said one end for receiving said projection.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 973,027 Fox Oct. 18, 1910 2,203,580 Ronning June 4, 1940 2,209,809 Burton July 30, 1940 2,219,699 Owen Oct. 29, 1940 2,408,281 Wilkin Sept. 24, 1946 2,629,142 Rifkin Feb. 24, 1953 

2. A WINDOW STRUCTURE SIMULATING A MULTI-PANE WINDOW, COMPRISING A CASING, A PANEL OF GLASS MOUNTED IN AND SPACED INWARDLY FROM THE INTERIOR EDGE OF SAID CASING, A VERTICAL AND A HORIZONTAL MUNTIN CONNECTED RIGIDLY TOGETHER TO FORM A REMOVABLE MULLION UNIT, AND A FIXTURE AT EACH END OF EACH MUNTIN, EACH FIXTURE CONSISTING OF A PERMANENT MAGNET PART AND A PART OF MAGNETIC ATTRACTABLE MATERIAL, ONE OF SAID PARTS BEING ON THE END OF A MUNTIN AND THE OTHER OF SAID PARTS BEING IN SAID CASING ADJACENT SAID ONE MUNTIN. 